I'd trade Franzen. His contract is cap friendly and the guy has shown he can be a huge asset.....he just doesn't want to be.
Gus and Tatertots are going to be better players all around than Franzenfloat. I am so tired of watching this guy meander around the ice like he is on a Sunday stroll at a seniors home. Its BEYOND ridiculous. I see Bert hustle his ass around with a bad back. Gus in the minors is a complete waste, and Tatar saddled with Cleary the albatross IF he isn't a healthy scratch.... yet, there is 93, crawling back on a line change or standing in the same spot for 8 seconds of his shift. Imagine having that much talent and deciding not to use it?
He and Lash for Girardi and a late pick would do it for me.

I have serious doubts about Mule. Period. This is not recent with me, however. I find myself wishing for Nyquist.

And E and Kronner back, please???

I don't understand and I simply never WILL understand why Franzen is the only guy on this team that never seems to be held accountable. Babs will demote guys like Weiss, Hudler, Flip, Brunner, Alfredsson and other talented players to the 3rd line when they are not showing up. I can think of twice that Franzenfloat has been demoted in the last 5 years. It appears that Babock thinks Mule is one shift away from that magical 2008 run. Let it go man.....He's lazy, inconsistent, erratic and uninspired. I for one am getting a bit tired of watching the guy stroll around out there like he's out for a Sunday walk and not being called on his sh@t.

it could hardly be worse than the Ottawa game, in terms of production. Why not?

For sure. I was at that game....nice waste of 6th row seats! Lol
Anyway, they have to do something because everyone is flat. I have serious doubts about Mule and Tatar together.....they both aren't really strong defensively so that line could either be lethal in a good way or in a horrible way. Bert has always played well with Pavel...but Pavs makes everyone better. The 4th line is solid.
The third line is like an online dating site -- random people lumped together who probably don't compliment each other, have no mojo and at the end of the night, nobody is gonna score

Hmm...interesting how different people see things from their own perspective. I for one thought that Weiss played his worst game last night but prior to that, he has been solid. Let's remember, it's not like we acquired Stamkos.....Weiss is a hard working second line centre. Maybe the expectations are a bit high?

He's playing a very different style of hockey on a very different hockey team. Its hard to adjust after spending 10 years on a team like Flordia. Until 2 games ago, he was playing with two stone cold pillars in Franzenfloat and Alfie/ Cleary.

To be honest I like the way he plays. He is effective on the back check, works grinder hard, effective along the boards and he hauls azz every shift. The scoring will come as he gets familiar with the system and his team mates. For the cap hit, he's a solid, heart guy with an offensive upside!

Think of it this way, he makes 1.9 million more than Sammeulsson! Anyone else thinks we got an amazing deal for a heck of a player now???

I think Babs is going to be quite unhappy when he reads what Smith says about being benched. I am glad he is sitting him down....if Smith doesn't understand why he is sitting he isn't mature enough to play.
I personally think Bert has played very well the last 3 games...I hope he adds the extra hands on that line. I'm curious to see how this shake up plays out.
GO WINGS!!!

So basically Babcock is saying he is not the one who is making decisions?

I read it like Tatar isn't scoring....therefore he's not in. It's hard to score on the 4th line but I thought he had a very dismal game against Boston- he was very weak in the defensive zone and his puck possession was disappointing...and I am a Tots fan.

I could have went with the youth movement- Danny D would have been my rookie X factor but honestly, the key to a young defensive Corp is leadership. Keeping with that theme, I chose the guy that needs to be leader on that back end so Kronner got my vote.
I think Kronwall has all the skills to be a great defenseman. I don't think I am off the mark by saying the majority on the boards, including myself saw 55 fall a bit short on taking over the number 1 last year. If he can be the player everyone is waiting him to become, Kronwall has to be the X factor. He needs to lead my example and to do that, he has to find his natural game again. That means generating a solid breakout pass, quick puck movement, contributing offense and the" super kronwalls" that put a little fear in the opposition who like to skate with their head down.
Last year he had a tendency to hesitate. He also let the puck get behind him a bit too much which lead to unfortunate penalties. He has to be better....and I think he will.
Imagine if you take the best Kronwall And allow him to teach a guy like Smith use his body and his hockey sense? If he can teach Q to find that tiny opening in the slot. Teach Kindl how to take a hit and not give away the puck. If that happens, I don't think we have an issues with the back end. That's why I think Kroonner is the x factor this year.

I really like this post....so many factors to consider! I actually think it's Gus and here is my rationale. We know the stellar career Alfie has had and we know what he brings. Weiss was a guy I have wanted since day one and he adds a depth that I love. Hank is a rockstar and Pavel the same. Franzen....well....he is like an unstable relationship that you constantly think about ending because when it's good, it's awesome and when it's bad...it's Sh#t. Gus....all the tools are there. He has good vision, soft hands and he works his Nyqvist off! The guy in my opinion could be the difference on this team, the X factor for the Wings. Put all of talent together with a healthy dose of self confidence and he can EASILY score 20+ goals. The flip side is that if he isn't prepared or gets skittish or overwhlemee by the pace of the game, it really changes the dynamics of the 3rd line!
I hope he is awesome like the player I think he can be and I hope he is the X factor for this team!

Saw this topic over at Hfboards and thought it was interesting. Who's the one player that you think would put us over the top, and who would you give to get him. Over there, they put everyone in the league in play and the only stipulation was that you had to give fair value to get him. I'm changing that. Has to fit under the cap, has to be "reasonably" available (so basically no elites like Stamkos, Crosby, Malkin, etc.), has to get fair value in return, and try as best you can to meet the other team's needs as well.

Also, assume that Eaves and Tootoo are gone as well. Giving us an extra 3.2 million toward the cap. As such, we'd be sitting 2.4 million below the cap.

Mine? Evander Kane for Franzen, Mrazek, 1st.

Zetterber-Datsyuk-Kane

Alfie-Weiss-Sammy

Tatar-Andersson-Nyquist

Miller-Helm-Abby

Bert

Kronwall-Ericsson

Dekeyser-Kindl

Smith-Quincey

Lashoff

Howard

Gustavsson

I like Kane....but thats a LOT to give up for him. Mule, a first and Mrzek (goalie if the future)???.....I think that might be too much for PATRICK Kane.

My only knock on Kindl is that he appears to get flustered by a hit. He tends to try and avoid it, thereby losing the puck. He needs some board work and the ability to take a hit....other than that, I think everyone is spot in....great skater, good vision, good passer. He definatjely took some strides this year.

Classless not to discuss this with Luongo after stringing the guy along for over a year, signing Schneider, and making it a f'n circus for everyone on that team. It's hard to feel sorry for a Canuck but I do for Lou in this position. What a joke. I guess that's why I am a fan of the classiest team in hockey!

I don't care if Zetterberg owns an iron. Doesnt bother me that Brunner wore a hat that looks like he stole it from Kmart, or that Cleary's eye looks like he has a raging staph infection....that video is all class. This team is all class. The heart that they showed in the playoffs translated perfectly in that video. They are obviously are all devastated but to put that aside and say a genuine thank-you to the fans.......pure awesome. They should be proud of themselves and I know that I feel proud to be a Wings fan every day. They are the classiest bunch of guys from the BEST franchise in sport.
Thank you to YOU Red Wings, for bringing it every night and allowing us to enjoy Wings hockey for just a little longer than most expected this year! I can't wait for the fall!!!